Lough Fee to Kylemore Lough

This walk requires a shuttle of 2 cars. It is best to change into your walking clothes in the Car park at Kylemore Abbey and use a second car to bring you to the starting point at Lough Fee. This walk involves the ascent of three peaks, Binn Chuanna (581 m), Garraun (556 m) and Doughtruagh at (526 m). The walk begins with a rather steep ascent up the grassy slope of Binn Chuanna, followed by an hour of easy walking across mixed ground. The final ascent from the east col of Doughruagh to its summit is quite steep. Finally you descend behind Kylemore Abbey and pick up the pilgrim path which leads you down behind the school and to the car park.

Route Description

From the car park at Kylemore Abbey follow the N59 towards Leenaun. Take the left turn at L818605 and continue along the road for 4 km, to the north shore of Lough Fee. There is ample parking here on the grassy verge.

Follow the by-road at L782618 for 50 or so meters and then begin ascending the ridge keeping the cliffs to the North. After approximately 180 m of ascent you reach a small boggy plateau on the ridge. Follow the route up along the grassy ridge to another small boggy plateau. This is a nice place to take a breather. The remainder of the ascent is over rocky ground. Once you have negotiated the ridge continue in a westerly direction for half of a kilometre to the cairn at L752594, which marks the summit of Binn Chuanna.

From Binn Chuanna there is a small decent southwards followed by a gentle and short ascent to the summit of Garraun at L763610. On your approach to Garraun you will notice scree on the slope. Walking up along this scree (which is quite easy) will bring you directly to the cairn that marks the summit of Garraun.

From the summit of Garraun you will see a ridge running east west towards the summit of Binn Fhraoigh in front of you. Aim for the middle of this ridge, walking across a wet and boggy underfoot. Once you have negotiated the ridge at L763606 continue along the south ridge in front of you and descend 250 m to the col at L762596. There is a very distinctive white rock (a seam of quartzite) on this col, which is a handy landmark. From the col, the ascent is quite steep up the east ridge of Doughruagh. Once you have negotiated the ridge continue west for half a kilometre to the summit of Doughruagh. There are a number of small bog lakes en route. There are some spectacular views from the summit of Doughruagh down onto Kylemore Lough and across to Binn Bhreac and Diamond Hill further west.

The descent from the summit is quite a tricky one. It is best to walk west from the summit for a few hundred meters before attempting the descent to the south. The decent will inevitably involve some scrambling. The aim is to descent towards the statue ( which is quite visible from the car park in Kylemore Abbey, where you parked your car), and pick up the pathway at L750588 which descends behind the Abbey.

The coffee shop in the abbey offers a wide selection of refreshments. Alternatively travel the 7 km to the pub in Letterfrack, for some fresh Guinness!